Social media loves a "crow bro" — but is it safe to train crows to interact with humans? Here's why it's not a good idea to befriend a crow.
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Scroll long enough in the bird-related corners of social media, and eventually, you’re bound to stumble on a corvid. Crows, jays, ravens, and magpies are simply too fascinating for humans to ignore. Their intelligence, complex bonds, and almost humanlike humor have captivated us for centuries.
With that in mind, whether for internet points or out of the kindness of their hearts, humans often try to bond with wild crows. Depending on how they go about it, such “friendships” aren’t good for the birds. Here’s what birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman have to say about training or befriending crows… and how to appreciate the birds safely.
Should People Befriend Crows? Why or Why Not
“I am fascinated by what I read and hear about crows. How can I befriend the crows that visit my backyard? What foods do they like, and what is the best way to offer them their favorite foods?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Jeanne Ostendorf of Lino Lakes, Minnesota.
Kenn and Kimberly appreciate the complexity of the crow-friendship question. The overwhelming majority of humans don’t have nefarious intentions when interacting with crows. Even though people mean well, these birding experts emphasize that practices seen on social media can have negative impacts.
“Crows and ravens are notably intelligent and fascinating to watch,” Kenn and Kimberly say. But it’s best to do that watching from a distance. “We don’t recommend trying to befriend wild crows or other wild birds, they explain. “They can learn to take advantage of easy food sources, but it can end badly for them if they lose their natural wariness around humans.”
Bad ideas include throwing food to crows along walking routes, attempting to get them to eat out of one’s hand, or other “taming” techniques. Getting too comfortable around people can be dangerous for crows, too, if they start venturing into busy roads or crowded areas.
In addition, it’s not just about the crows. Some distance is good for humans, too. As the Kaufmans explain, if crows get too confident in crowded areas, they might take unsuspecting non-birders by surprise. “Many people may be alarmed if a bird as large as a crow approaches them,” Kenn and Kimberly say.
Psst—do crow sightings have meaning?
Can People Offer Food to Crows at Feeders?
“As omnivores, crows will eat practically anything, but they’re not especially attracted to usual bird-feeder fare,” Kenn and Kimberly say. These birds also do most of their foraging on the ground. If someone wants to feed crows, some of the best foods to use would include unsalted peanuts (especially in the shell), small fruits, scrambled egg, or even dog kibble.
On the other hand, birders should avoid offering bread, chocolate, candy, and most table scraps. Since crows are much larger than songbirds and can startle them away from feeders, the Kaufmans suggest establishing a separate feeding area on the ground for them.
Ultimately, though, Kenn and Kimberly maintain that crows are intelligent and adaptable. While they likely wouldn’t grow over-reliant on humans for food, they don’t need us, either. “The best way to appreciate them is just to watch their behavior in the wild,” they say. Use a good pair of binoculars or a telescope. “[Crows] do all sorts of interesting things when they’re not bothered or distracted by humans.”
How Can I Learn More About Crows?
If you find crows fascinating, plenty of research-backed books exist that delve into their psychology, bonds and behaviors. Of them, the Kaufmans specifically recommend Gifts of the Crow: How Perception, Emotion, and Thought Allow Smart Birds to Behave Like Humans by John M. Marzluff, and Mind of the Raven by Bernd Heinrich.
